Centre for Management of Innovation and Technology in Process Industry
Bjarne Bergquist
Quality Technology
Tracing Granular Products
using RFID
Centre for Management of Innovation and Technology in Process Industry
Tracing Granular Products using RFID
Industrial partners and funding agents:
Electrotech AB LKAB
Vinnova
EU structural funds Mål 2
Traceability
Project idea
1. RFID pellets behaving as pellets
2. Robust measurement equipment
3. Statistical models of
pellets flow
Kvarnström, B. & Vanhatalo, E. (2010). Using RFID to improve traceability in
process industry: Experiments in a distribution chain for iron ore pellets,
Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 21(1), 139-154.
Reader 1
Reader 2
Antenna 2
Antenna 2
Signal stre ngth
Detection limit
Signal stre ngth
Detection
limit
T. Lindgren B. Kvarnström J. Ekman (2010). Monte Carlo simulation of an radio frequency identification system with moving transponders using the partial element equivalent circuit method, IET Microwawes,
Antennas & Propagation, 4 (12) 2069–2076
Antenna around belt
Antenna below belt
Read rate, all types of transponders
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Reader 1 Reader 2 Total read
R a te of r ead t ran sp o n d er s
Centre for Management of Innovation and Technology in Process Industry
0,00%
20,00%
40,00%
60,00%
80,00%
100,00%
Reader 1 and 12 mm
transponder size
Reader 1 and 22 mm
transponder size
Reader 2 and 12 mm
transponder size
Reader 2 and 22 mm
transponder size
R ead r a te
Brazil nut effect
A
B C
Iron ore pellet
Parameter Estimates
Predictor Coefficient S.E. Coef Chi-Sq. Prob.>Chi-Sq.
Intercept
ˆ
6 -1,5141 0,3184 74,1640 <,0001*Reader
ˆ
7 0,6616 0,3184 13,0226 0,0003*Trans ponder s ize 22
8 2,3239 0,3184 267,3075 <,0001*Reader *Trans ponder s ize 22
ˆ
9 -1,2076 0,3184 46,8416 <,0001*Goodness-of Fit Tests
Method Chi-Sq. DF Prob.>Chi-Sq.
Pears on 18,7303 26 0,8476
Deviance 23,2271 26 0,6201
Likelihood Ratio Test
-Log Likelihood DF Prob.>Chi-Sq.
Difference between
reduce and full model 158,4281 3 <,0001*
, y
Container
Max imum s ign al s tr eng th
A B C F G H
2 3 4 5 6
Small transponders
Large transponders
Residence times of two experiments
B o x - a n d - W h is k e r P lo t
B .R e s id e n c e T im e
A
B
C
5 8 6 0 6 2 6 4 6 6
( X 1 0 0 0 ,0 )
Box-and-Whisker Plot
A.Residence time
A
B
C
3200 4200 5200 6200 7200
Follow up experiments
A-type: spheres with 12mm tags, 4.3 g/cm 3 density
M-type: spheres 4.3 g/cm 3 density (same as pellets)
H-type: spheres 6.1 g/cm 3 density
Iron ore pellet
Kvarnström, B., Bergquist, B. & Vännman, K. (2011). RFID to improve traceability in continuous granular flows: an
experimental case study, Quality Engineering, in press.
5 4
3 2
1 30000
25000 20000 15000 10000 5000
0
Block
Residence time
A H M
Treatment
Ongoing work
Two readers relocated to Narvik SILA station
Difficulties obtaining signals
Practical difficulties
Products going to different warehouses Loss of contact with readers
Loss of power to readers Loss of GSM connectivity Antenna failures
Belt deflection likely to interfere with antennas encircling belts Harsh, dusty environments
Experiments in these organizational and mechanically harsh
environments need to be foolproof
Academic output
Publications
Theses, Dissertations
Kvarnström, B. (2010). Traceability in Continuous Processes – Applied to Ore Refinement Processes, Quality Technology,
Book chapters
Kvarnström, B. & Oja, J. (2010): Applications of RFID to
improve traceability in continuous processes, in Turcu, C.
(red) Sustainable Radio Frequency Identification Solutions).
Vienna, Austria : In-Tech s. 69-86.
Centre for Management of Innovation and Technology in Process Industry
Journal publications (published, in press or accepted for publication) Kvarnström, B., and Vanhatalo, E. (2009): Using RFID to improve traceability in process industry: Experiments in a distribution chain of iron ore pellets, Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 139-154.
Lindgren, T. Kvarnström, K., and Ekman, J. (2010): Monte Carlo simulation of radio frequency identification system with moving transponders using the partial element equivalent circuit method, I E T Microwaves Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 4, No. 12, pp. 2069-2076.
Vanhatalo, E., Kvarnström, B., Bergquist, B., Vännman, K. (2011) A Method to Determine Transition Time for Experiments in Dynamic Processes, Quality Engineering, 23(1), pp. 30-45.
Kvarnström, B. & Bergquist, B, Vännman, K. (2011): RFID to Improve
Traceability in Continuous Granular Flows. To appear in Quality Engineering.
Kvarnström, B. & Bergquist, B. (2011). Improving Traceability in Continuous Processes Using Flow Simulations. To appear in Production, Planning &
Control.
Centre for Management of Innovation and Technology in Process Industry
Invited conference presentations and papers
Bergquist, B. & Kvarnström, B. (2011) Tracking and Tracing Products in Continuous Processes, 2011 International Congress on Productivity, Quality, Reliability, Optimization and Modelling: ICPQROM 2011.
Indian Statistical Institute 10 s.
Other conference presentations
Kvarnström, B. (2008). Spårbarhet for granulära produkter, The Promote Workshop, Luleå, May 13.
Bergquist, B. & Kvarnström, B. (2009). Traceability in Continuous Processes, Bergforsk, Luleå, Luleå, May 5.
Bergquist, B. & Kvarnström, B. (2009). What is Traceability and How Can Traceability be Created in Continuous Processes?, The Promote Workshop, Luleå May 13.
Bergquist, B. & Kvarnström, B. (2010). Tracing Granular Pruducts using RFID, Bergforsk, Luleå, May 4-5.
Centre for Management of Innovation and Technology in Process Industry
Promote Workshop »Process industrial innovation and development work in the future«
Jernkontoret 18 May 9-17 Speakers include e.g.
Thomas Lundgren & Niclas Dahlström, Northland Resources Rolf Hindström, Outotec
Magnus Wikström, Billerud AB Mats Magnusson, KTH & IMIT Mats Larsson, Höganäs AB
Johan Frishammar, Promote, LTU
Bjarne Bergquist & Erik Vanhatalo, Promote, LTU
Centre for Management of Innovation and Technology in Process Industry
